Technical obstacles on the road towards a permanent left ventricular assist device.
After many years of research, various left ventricular assist systems (LVADs) are now entering clinical practice and are exposed to wider application. Currently, we are seeing a change in concept: after the successful application of LVADs as a bridge to transplant, today the permanent use of these devices is attracting the attention of the scientific community. LVADs based on pulsatile blood pumps necessarily contain many discrete elements. However, by integration of parts they can be made fairly simple and safe. Thrombo-embolic complications can be reduced by better design of the valves, avoiding stagnant flow altogether.
Affeld
K
K
Humboldt Universität Berlin, Labor für Biofluidmechanik, Germany.
Ziemann
A
A
Goubergrits
L
L
D004867:Equipment Design; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology